#he may not have any idea whats going on. he may make fun of lowry for having 0 even tho thats good

[jrueships]

NOW WHY DID THEY. WHY DID THEY CHOOSE THIS ANGLE .

[gaaavin]

Edmund Lowry Jr.

Hiya! I've had another idea and wanted to write something for it, too. It’s inspired by / based on that serial killer in RDR2. Feel free to give me feedback or whatever you'd like. Anyways, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it!

Pairing: Arthur Morgan x gn!reader

Words: 4.9 k

Summary: You thought it'd be an easy job with a nice prey at the end of the evening, until everything took the wrong turn.

Warnings: angst, mentions of torture but nothing too graphic, kidnapping, thoughts about death but with a happy ending

Finally, some green around you. That was your first thought, after you and the whole Van der Linde gang had arrived in Horseshoe Overlook. It was a lovely camp with a beautiful view. You sure could stay here for a longer period this time, hopefully. The constant moving took a toll on everyone just as much as the running from the law. Before finally settling into your current camp, all of you had to flee from Blackwater. A job there had gone terribly wrong and there was talk about Dutch losing control and shooting a woman. You hadn’t been there at that moment but you just couldn’t imagine that something like this would ever occur. The Dutch you knew would never harm any innocent folks. This escape resulted in an overhasty departure for the mountains – Colter had been the place of refuge up there. It was cold and you almost had no supplies. You generally liked the cold weather and snow but the storm up there you all had to endure was way too much to enjoy it at all. For now, though, you tried to push the negative thoughts away, instead concentrating on your new surroundings.

About a week after all things had been unpacked, you decided to go into the nearest town – Valentine. Dutch was right about all of you needing money urgently and you of course wanted to contribute, too. You saddled your mount up and rode out, but not before telling Karen where you wanted to go. “I’ll check, if I can find anything interesting in Valentine. Do you need something from the store while I’m in town?” you asked her. Her response coming promptly. “Some candies would be nice, would make these days here a lot more enjoyable.” As she concluded her answer, she winked at you earning her a small laugh on your part. After nodding, you spurred your horse and went into town.

The first thing you noticed was the smell, even before you entered the city at all. The second thing was the auction yard. Well, that explains it. No wonder it smells like horseshit everywhere around here, you thought as you entered the city. The people seemed friendly towards you, greeting you here and there. Although, you knew that you shouldn’t get on the town’s bad side. Some of the guys from your camp had caused trouble in the saloon some days ago and let’s just say that they aren’t as welcome in there anymore.

One of the boys was Arthur, your- well, you didn’t know what exactly the two of you were. Back in Blackwater your friendship slowly turned into something more intimidate, even romantic, with it peaking one drunken night around the campfire when you shared your first ever kiss. The sparks flew through the air and you felt like you were on cloud nine, being the happiest you had been in months. Since then, though, it felt like Arthur was avoiding you. Or maybe you were just imagining things. After all, you two hadn’t had much time after all the fighting, shed blood and the running after that. You had a special bond with Arthur like you’ve never had with anyone before – even before your relationship went to some sort of next level. You could communicate without words, understanding the other in more than one precarious situation. Currently, Arthur was away to get Sean back from those bounty hunters – that’s at least what John had told you earlier. You tried to push the thoughts of Arthur to the back of your head, trying to focus on the task at hand – find a lead or somebody to rob.

As you finally arrived at the saloon across the gunsmith, you hitched your horse and entered the facility. You were greeted with warm, liquor-filled air as you headed towards the bar, letting your eyes wander around. Drunk men were an easy prey. Before leaving camp, you had put on nice clothes, that were quite revealing. For you, that was the best way to gather information about anything or to rob someone. You mostly played either the damsel in distress or someone looking for some night company and most of the men fell for it every time, letting you close enough for you to relieve them of their valuables or information. Either was welcome.

After some time, your eyes landed on a stranger, that was looking directly at you. Bingo! You tried to approach him with your best smile. “Hey stranger.” You said, earning you a small smile from him. He had something odd to him. You couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but something about him put you off and gave you goosebumps all over. For now though, you tried to ignore your gut feeling. You were experienced in the things you did on an almost daily basis. Even if he could possibly be some sort of danger for you, you would definitely be able to defend yourself. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time some drunk feller had inappropriate thoughts about you.

“Hey there.” He grinned at you. As you took a real first look at him, the thing you noticed right away were his eyes. You were a firm believer that the eyes displayed the door to the soul and his were just so… dark. Not just the color but also their aura. They had a strange glint to them and there was something deeper hiding behind them. Something bad maybe? Nonetheless, you offered him a drink and ignored your gut feeling again. After all, you wanted your camp members to have something to eat or rob in the future. “You seem lonely tonight. May I offer you a drink and maybe my company?” you asked him while fluttering your lashes. He seemed to think about his response for a moment, before finally saying. “Sure, that would be very kind of you. Thank you. Name’s Edmund Lowry Jr. May I ask yours?” You smiled innocently at him, before telling him a fake name.

Unfortunately, Mr. Lowry declined every further offer of you to buy him another drink. It would make things definitely more complicated if he didn’t want to get drunk. Quickly thinking of a plan B, you ultimately decided that you could just knock him out with the revolver hidden under your clothes if you’d be able to lead him to a more secluded area somewhere outside. He had told you earlier that he was a rich man and owned some land outside of Valentine, so the prey was too rewarding to not at least try to rob him. Although your plan was pretty dangerous, you put it into action by asking him if he’d mind joining you for a small walk outside. “The air in here is really getting to me and I think I need some fresh, new air.” He grinned almost devilish at you, before offering you his arm to lead you outside.

Taking a stroll in the streets, you tried to steer him towards the stables. This terrain was secluded enough for you to hit him and flee without causing much of a scene or getting caught. He guided you towards the fields in the back of the stables, let go of your arm and took a step forward, facing the wide area behind Valentine. This was your moment. With his back to you, you reached under your clothes to grab the revolver but just in that moment he turned rapidly around and pointed towards the theatre. Out of sheer shock your revolver slipped from your hand. Damnit! You tried to drown out the clattering of your weapon with an awkward cough. “My dear” he started and you turned around to follow the direction of his finger. You now stood one step ahead of him and couldn’t see him. “Would you like to visit a show with me?” In that moment you heard him shuffle behind you. Bewildered, you turned around and everything went black.

Arthur came back to camp after successfully rescuing Sean from those bounty hunters in Blackwater with Charles, Javier and Trelawny. He was dead tired and just wanted to eat something and go straight to bed. As he dismounted his horse, he went directly to get some stew and grab a bottle. Along his way, he was greeted with a well done here and there. Arthurs eyes wandered around camp, searching for you but you were nowhere to be found. It wasn’t strange for you to be absent; you often went to look for jobs and therefore were away for some days. Nevertheless, he was a bit disappointed to not be able to talk to you. The both of you hadn’t really had the chance to properly speak, especially not about your situation. He was so goddamn afraid of what was to come, of what you had done to him – he had opened his heart for you unwillingly and wasn’t sure if he could handle another proper relationship. What if you left him? What if one day you woke up and decided that he wasn’t what you wanted anymore. He couldn’t deal with another heart break.

After Arthur finished his stew, he went directly to bed. This night a welcome party for Sean was set to be celebrated and he just wanted to close his eyes a little bit before that. After some hours of more or less peaceful sleep – after all the party was being prepared and people were rummaging everywhere in camp – Arthur finally got up and let his eyes wander around camp in search for you again. “They aren’t here. Karen told me earlier.” Arthur looked to his left from where that characteristic voice came from. “Marston.” Arthur greeted him before John continued. “They went to scout for any leads in Valentine.” Arthur furrowed his eyebrows. Was it really that obvious to others? He decided to play dumb in hopes that he’d eventually be left alone. “I don’t know what you mean. Am not looking for anyone.” John smirked knowingly as he countered. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Don’t you dare to think I’m stupid. I have eyes, Morgan and I know you pretty well.” Arthur sighed, slightly nodding. “Yeah, whatever.”

The celebration was pretty fun. Almost the whole gang was gathered around the campfire, singing songs away happily. These were the times in which Arthur almost forgot that they were actually running from the law. Of course, they had done that before but it never seemed as bad as it was now. Blackwater left a stain on everyone in one way or another, Colter wasn’t much better for regaining strength. His rock, though, has always been you. Since he’s gotten to know you, you always were able to calm him down, ease his nerves and see right through him no matter how inaccessible he tried to appear. You weaseled your way right into his heart. Although your way of life was a dangerous one, he knew deep down that you two were somehow meant for each other – understanding each other on a level he’s never had with anyone before.

As the night went on, Arthur’s mind always wandered back to you. He just wasn’t able to get you out of his head for even one goddamn night. Soon, he said his goodbyes and went to his tent, writing down his thoughts first before finally retiring to bed. By midday the following day you still weren’t in camp and Arthur started to worry, a bad feeling creeping up on him. Should he go search for you? No one knew how long you’d be gone. But even if you were just at the saloon or wherever it wouldn’t hurt to check in on you. Maybe you two would even be able to spend some quality time together after everything that has happened.

Soon after, Arthur mounted his horse and rode off, shortly after arriving in Valentine. Where should he start to search for you? Maybe the saloon? After all, it was so to say the heart of the town. If here was going on anything, he’d find his answers in there. After arriving at the facility, he immediately recognized your horse. So, they’re here, he thought to himself. Relieved, he finally swung the doors open and headed towards the bar. His eyes roamed the room, but found you nowhere. That struck him odd. You wouldn’t ever leave your horse behind somewhere. Just as Arthur sat down at the bar, the bartender spoke up. “Oh no, not you again mister. I don’t want any more trouble in here.” Arthur sighed, before replying. “I’m not here to cause trouble mister. I’m actually looking for a friend of mine. Have you seen them?” Arthur gave the man behind the bar a brief description of you and looked at him expectantly after he finished. The bartender seemed to think about it for a moment, before saying “Oh my memory isn’t the best, Mister. Maybe a little tip of yours could help it.” Arthur groaned and rolled his eyes while reaching in his bag to throw some coins towards the man behind the bar, adding “Now spit it” with gritted teeth. “Thank you. Well, I have indeed seen them in here. Yesterday they spoke to a man, seemed pretty cozied up, flirting the whole night. They left together, too. Seemed to go towards the hotel.” “Anything else?” Arthur asked. “No, not really. It’s just… That man that was with them yesterday seemed fairly strange. I didn’t have a good feeling with him. I can’t explain it really, but he was rather sinister.” Arthur thanked the man, before heading outside to try and track your footprints. He knew that you wouldn’t go with a man into his hotel room just like that, at least not to actually engage with him. You just weren’t the type for something like this. Hopefully, Arthur could track you down quickly. He didn’t have a good feeling in this.

As you slowly came back to your senses, your head practically screamed at you. It hurt like hell. What happened? You forced your eyes open and although the room was dimly lit, you tried to take in your environment. Where am I? So many questions came crushing down on you all at once as you tried to comprehend what you were seeing around you. While examining your surroundings, your eyes landed on the wall. There were many reports of missing persons. Where the hell am I? Letting your eyes travel further, the next thing they saw was blood. A whole lot of blood. Everywhere. And was that… a corpse in the corner? I need to get out of here immediately. You thought terrified and tried to move, but didn’t get away. You were tied up. God damn it! Your movements seemed to attract the attention of something or someone else in there. So, I’m not alone in here. You didn’t know whether that soothed your nerves or made everything worse. Just in that moment a voice from somewhere near sounded. “Oh good, you’re finally awake.”

Arthur finally arrived near the stables where your tracks ended, your horse in tow as well. Hmm, seems like someone was dragged from here to a horse. He examined the surrounding ground as he suddenly saw something shiny near one of the barrels. As he got closer to the object, his mouth fell slightly agape while his brows furrowed simultaneously. It was your revolver, he recognized it immediately. It had a special engraving he bought you while out in Blackwater. You two had to grab some ammunition for a job beforehand and as you saw the engraving you were thrilled. It looked so pretty. Seeing you all excited, Arthur wanted you to have something nice reminding you of him that you always took with you – no matter where you went. So, it was even more concerning finding it laying here with you nowhere in sight. What happened to you?

You knew that voice. This couldn’t be… Or could it be the man from the saloon? Just as you tried to recall the events from the night before, the man came into sight. You turned your head to look at him, letting your eyes wander from his face further down to his hands. They held something shiny in them. Finally recognizing that it was a huge knife, your eyes widened in shock and you gulped audibly, starring at him blankly. “Lowry.” You managed to get out between gritted teeth, your voice sounding too hoarse to really sound mad. “Welcome to my most favorite place in the world. Save yourself thinking what is about to happen. Now, I’m not going to lie. It’s not going to be nice… and fun. I mean, it will be fun for me, but it won’t be nice for you. At least, no one’s found it nice so far. Maybe you’ll be the first.” Lowry laughed maniacally, before he continued. “Do you like pain? Is it your friend? It’s about to become your very close friend. Very close. But when it’s over…release. Glorious release. Now, there’s no point fighting. You might as well try and relax a little bit.” Lowry approached you slowly, looking almost peaceful while you wanted to scream, scratch his eyes out, just do anythingto escape the upcoming hell awaiting you. As Lowry moved the huge knife slowly closer and closer towards your torso, a thought came to your mind. It was one single thought that hadn’t occurred to you up until now; you weren’t going to make it out alive of here and you wouldn’t ever see your family or Arthur ever again. You were tied up too strong to escape. As the realization hit you, you let your desperate tears fall freely – hopefully he wouldn’t stretch it out too long and you didn’t have to suffer too much.

Arthur had a bad feeling, a really bad feeling about this. Something just wasn’t right. Things weren’t adding up. You’d never leave your two most precious things somewhere voluntarily. Something had happened to you and Arthur was determined to find out what that was, to find you above all. Hopefully alive. He thought to himself but pushed that thought away quickly. He couldn’t stand to think something like this. After all, you could handle yourself pretty well, right? Arthur had seen you many times shoot yourself out of a dicey situation. You were smart, not taking too many risks. But no matter what he knew about you, he knew just as certainly that this time something went the wrong way. He tried to track the hoofbeats up to a door on the ground. Maybe an entrance to a cellar? He thought to himself with his stomach dropping to the floor.

Arthur examined the door closely, eventually discovering the locket on it. He took a steadying breath, before attempting to crack it. His hands were shaking, he was so afraid of what he’d find behind that damn door. Just as he leaned closer towards the door and the lock to start cracking it, he heard a bloodcurdling scream from inside the cellar. Was that your voice? Oh damn, yes, that sounded definitely like you. His first thought was that he’d kill that bastard causing these sounds to escape from your lips. His second thought, though, was Thank God, you’re alive. As he finally was able to enter the room, he could hear heavy panting. He didn’t waste any time looking around, heading straight towards the source of the sounds. As you saw him, your eyes widened, shaking your head frantically. Your mouth was stuffed with some sort of white cloth, so you couldn’t speak to him. This is a trap! You wanted to scream at him. Arthur looked at you with a deep sadness in his eyes – and adoration. You looked like a complete mess. Everywhere on you was blood. Lowry cut along your torso and beat you, resulting in a black eye and a burst open lip. But nonetheless, Arthur had that look on him that he just gave you – a special soft one. It let the tears well up in you even more than before, now crying desperately.

Arthur couldn’t believe it. You were alive, but only barely. You looked like you went through hell and you probably been there for the last hours. How long have you been down here? At that thought, guilt overcame him completely. While he was in camp sleeping, partying with his family, you were being tortured and bearing unspeakable torment. How could he have been so dumb? He should’ve listened to his gut feeling, searching for you earlier. He sprinted towards you and wanted to free you from your bonds, beginning with your mouth. “Are you alright?” He asked you concerned, before looking you up and down for any deep wounds. “It’s- It’s a-“ you tried to answer him, but your throat was sore from all the screaming and the lack of fluids.

Arthur heard something behind him, a slight movement, but enough to cause him to turn around pretty quickly. Too quickly for Lowry, who hadn’t expected that. Lowry stumbled slightly back, hitting the wall with his back. Arthur took advantage of the confusion of his opposer and hit him hard, once, twice. Arthur was so furious. How dare that man to do something like this to you? How dare he touch you at all? All these thoughts were crushing down on him, altogether with his guilt about not being able to protect you. He beat him up, again and again and again. It was almost as if his fists moved alone by now. “Arthur, stop!” He heard your raspy voice, breaking with every syllable and it brought him back to reality. Lowry was knocked out and didn’t move anymore. Arthur shook his head as if shaking all those thoughts off for now. He tied Lowry up quickly, before rushing to you to finally free you for good. As you were finally free, you basically fell in Arthurs arms and just started to cry. It was a mixture of everything – pain, fear, but also relief and gratitude. Arthur helped you up the stairs and lifted you up on his horse. After that he sprinted back to get Lowry and loaded him on your horse and finally mounted behind you in his horse.

The way to the Sherriff’s office was quiet. No one said a word. You were sniffling and resting against Arthurs body with your eyes closed, while he soothingly rubbed circles and held you close so that you wouldn’t slip off his mount. “I’m gonna bring him in and tell the Sheriff where to find that damn cellar and after that, I’ll finally bring you home. Just wait here a second. I’ll be back in a moment.” You nodded slightly, hoping it wouldn’t take too much time. You just wanted to head back to camp and sleep it all off.

After a short time, you heard a shot from the office. Your eyes widened in shock and your heart started to thump heavy in your chest. What was happening in there? After a few moments, Arthur finally came out again. “That bastard tried to kill the Sheriff. I had to shoot him.” You just nodded, sighing relieved, while looking him up and down for any injuries. “I’m fine. Now, let’s get you back home.”

The last few days have gone by in a blur. After you arrived back in camp, Ms. Grimshaw tended to your wounds and you were on a good way. Arthur hadn’t left your side all this time – bringing you stew, a coffee or just keeping you company. He wouldn’t even sleep in his own tent, always staying with you on a chair next to your kot. Today was the first time in days that you felt like you could walk around a bit – and you desperately needed it. Being trapped all those days in camp was making you go crazy. “Arthur, would you mind taking a walk with me?” you asked him. He seemed to contemplate for a moment. Shouldn’t you go easy a few more days and rest? “Arthur, please. I’m gonna go mad if I have to stay here for another day. Just a small walk along the shore. You’re with me, so what could possibly happen to me?” That question stung a bit. He couldn’t protect you before, why were you still feeling so safe with him? Nonetheless, Arthur finally agreed, offering you his arm to support you just in case you felt weaker again.

As the two of you arrived at the little beach, you held tightly onto his arm. You never wanted to let go. Coming to a halt, you two turned to watch the water. So peaceful. “You know...” you started, breathing in and out. “When I was trapped back there in that cellar, I really thought I wouldn’t make it. I thought that the last things I’d ever see would be blood on the walls and that bastards face with that devilish grin. I was so mad at myself for not listening to my gut feeling, for being so goddamn stupid, that I kinda felt like I deserved it. I thought that the last thing I’d hear would be that maniac’s laugh or my own screams. I thought that I’d never see daylight again, flowers, my family or you. Before that happened, I thought you were avoiding me or that you maybe thought that this kiss back in Blackwater was a mistake.” At that his head snapped towards you, watching you intently before you continued. “And I had regrets. Not about the kiss, of course, but about not telling you how I truly felt about you Arthur. I love you; I really do. I couldn’t bear not seeing you again. It broke my heart.”

Tears welled up in your eyes as you thought back to your personal hell, Lowry’s most favorite place as he called it. This thought struck a nerve inside you, his voice echoing those exact words. Your tears started to fall freely by now and a chocked sound escaped your mouth. “I really thought I lost you, Arthur. I thought I lost against him. After all this time running, it would be a failed lead that had the power to end me.” You cried and just couldn’t stop. Arthur embraced you, pulling you tightly against him as if he never wanted to let you go again. While holding you like this, he said. “When I came back from rescuing Sean, I was disappointed you weren’t in camp. When you weren’t there for the welcome party I started to worry. But when I saw your horse outside of the saloon and you weren’t nowhere in sight, I panicked and freaked out. I knew you’d never leave him behind. I was so desperate to find you and just so goddamn afraid. Afraid, I’d never see you again. That I’d lost you while I was back at camp relaxing. I wasn’t able to protect you, eating and sleeping while you were being tortured. That image of you tied up, covered in blood just won’t leave my mind. Maybe if I went to look for you earlier, you didn’t have to endure all this. I couldn’t protect you and I’ll never forgive myself for that and I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

You slightly leaned back to look him in the eyes that were filled with so much sorrow and guilt, it made your heart ache. “Arthur” you began, while cupping his cheek with your hand, the other still holding tightly onto him. “This wasn’t your fault, do you hear me? There isn’t any chance in the world you could’ve prevented this. You know I normally can handle myself; it was a job gone terribly wrong. If anything, you saved me. You saved my life – I owe you my life, Arthur. Don’t you dare put this burden on your shoulders. I never asked you to come along with me, I went alone and I knew that something could happen. Believe me, this wasn’t your fault, not at all. Lowry did kidnap me, not you. He mistreated me, not you. He used his knife to hurt me, not you. Even if you had been there earlier, he still would’ve had more than enough time with me alone. Please believe me when I say, that there is nothing I have to forgive you. And there isn’t anything you have to forgive yourself. You couldn’t have changed this in any way. I should’ve listened to my sentiment. He had something strange about him from the beginning. But he told me that he was rich so I went for it nonetheless. “

Arthur still wasn’t fully convinced, but seemed more at peace – at least for the moment. “I really thought I lost you and I never want to lose you again. Back in Blackwater, I was so damn afraid of what we had but now I can’t get into my head how foolish that was of me. I love you, too, so damn much. And if you’ll still have me, would you want to be mine?” You were smiling through your tears, as you nodded and finally kissed Arthur the second time in your life. This time, though, with more certainty than ever before.

[drabbles-of-writing]

The Disappearance of Luz Noceda

This is part of my Four Years AU

AO3

Masterpost

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Luz Noceda was never a popular kid.

But that didn’t mean she was unknown. She was far from it.

Luz was, by all standards, the ‘weird’ kid. The kid who nobody wanted to talk to and always ignored during any group projects.

She was always, well, an enigma.

Luz was obsessed with witchcraft and magic, but she wasn’t anywhere close to the goths or the satanic kids. At least everyone knew those kids did it for the aesthetic. Or were actually a little off and found their own little buddies to hang out with.

Luz was always positive, and never had a negative thing to say. And it seemed like she genuinely believed in her own optimism.

Not like the kids who were positive for the sake of it or to make more friends. People knew those kids.

Luz believed in magic, the pure kind. She believed the stories she read had the strangest ideas.

Joey said she’d be incredibly focused on one thing one day, and another the next with no rhyme or reason to it.

Ira said she’d start clicking a pen repeatedly if she ever had an idea while writing. She called it incredibly annoying when trying to focus.

Lowri said she was an idiot, not only for believing her fantasies, but just in school in general. A few kids protested this, saying that while Luz wasn’t the best at school, she was actually very clever. No one listened to them.

Deimos said she would mumble what she was writing under her breath. And from what he heard, she really liked writing about witches and convoluted romance.

Zaher said she’d tried to join the book club once, but after talking non-stop about her Azura book, nobody told her where the meetings were being held anymore.

No matter who you asked, no matter how nice they were, everyone would say just how strange Luz was. Some didn’t mind her, Luz was nice, after all. But nobody really wanted to deal with...well, that.

Beatrice said she heard her mother call Luz’s mom an ‘illegal alien.’

Samuel said he heard that Luz would practice witchcraft, and was getting stronger.

And that’s where the first rumors started.

She was an alien, that’s why she acted weird, some said.

She was a witch trying to sneak into human society, said others.

She had summoned a demon, and that was why she always had something to say, even if it didn’t make sense, explained some.

Despite the rumors, not many kids really believed them. It was just a joke. A fun little thing to whisper in the hallways when they saw Luz pass. It entertained them. It made them feel better. No matter how weird they thought they were, at least they weren’t Luz Noceda.

Until one day, she wasn’t there.

School started, and nobody could find Luz Noceda. Not in one class. Kids texted their friends, wondering if the weird kid had moved schools. They said they never saw her.

Anton was the first to speak up.

His father was a police officer.

Anton had mentioned that Luz wasn’t at school. He found it odd, as Luz made sure to be at school often, and said she didn’t like taking sick days. And he hadn’t heard that she moved.

His father had told him that Luz was kidnapped.

At least, that was the running theory.

Other kids spoke up after that. Saying they had heard their parents talking about it, but didn’t think it could be true. Luz? Going missing on her way to a summer camp? Yeah, right. It was probably another one of her odd schemes. She was known for those.

Now they knew.

Rumors went everywhere after that. And every kid believed at least one of them.

Luz Noceda had vanished without a trace on her way to a summer camp to set her straight. She had never arrived at the camp, and mysterious letters had been sent before stopping one month in.

The last time anyone had seen her was four months ago.

Of course, the theorist kids jumped on this.

The weird kid? Going missing? Why, of course it couldn’t have been a coincidence!

Sofia thought she’d been taken by a demon she had summoned to get out of going to camp.

Jenna thought someone found out she was a witch and she killed them before going into hiding.

Willbert thought she had fled the country to avoid being found out as an illegal alien from Mars.

Shanthi thought she’d made a deal with the fae and been taken by them.

Gervaise thought she’d never really existed at all, and was simply an illusion concocted by the government.

Nobody really believed Gervaise. But there wasn’t exactly anything proving it false.

It was the talk of the school for the first few months.

Kids threw around theories, ideas, and questions. Someone suggested that maybe Luz could be hiding in the woods practicing demonics and witchcraft.

The kids were always too afraid to really check. At least for a little while.

Normally, something like this would eventually die down and become nonexistent within a few months.

And yet, it didn’t.

Before the school year was halfway over, Luz Noceda’s disappearance became a school myth, an urban legend.

The witch who was sent away to be ‘re-conformed’ but was actually murdered for her crimes against magic.

Or, at least, some variation of that. Some said she was an alien, others say she was the murderer, and there’s a select few that think she was a regular girl accused of something she didn’t do.

But the legend stuck all the same.

Parents would shush their kids every time they mentioned the name Luz Noceda. It was taboo, they said, to mention the missing girl's name. To think of her as a murderous myth.

That only added onto the legend. That the parents surrounding the Noceda house knew of her crimes, and they tried to pretend it never happened.

It became a right of passage in Luz’s school, that whenever a new kid moved in, they would have to wander into the woods by the Noceda house and spend a night with other kids in the broken house.

Luz’s fingerprints had been found on the door frame, but nothing more. It was unknown if she had visited before her disappearance or not.

Since it was the closest thing the kids had, they decided to use it. They spread rumors it was Luz’s secret witch hideout before she vanished. Or that she still lives there, and watches the new kids from the shadows of the forest.

And the legend stayed.

For four years, the Legend of Luz Noceda was a well-known tale among the students both in and out of town.

There may have been many rumors, many ideas and theories on Luz herself, but the one thing everyone agreed on was this;

Luz Noceda would never return, lest she curse the kids who made her so infamous.

Or so they thought.

[tcm]

Remembering Albert Finney by Susan King

Albert Finney, who died in February 2019 at the age of 82, may have been an acclaimed Hollywood star, but he never played the Hollywood game.

When I had the great and good fortune to interview him 20 years ago for the Los Angeles Times, the charming Finney explained why he didn’t leave England behind and move to La La Land when 1963’s Oscar-winning TOM JONES made him an international star.

“I felt after TOM and TWO FOR THE ROAD (’67), I didn’t want to go shackle myself with any sense or idea that I was a movie star,” he noted. “I wanted to go any way that I wanted to go, and I wanted the freedom to do it.”

And he always stuck by his guns.

Finney earned five Oscar nominations—TOM JONES, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (’74), THE DRESSER (’83), UNDER THE VOLCANO (’84) and ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000)—but he never attended an Oscar ceremony.

After enduring a long screen test for David Lean’s Oscar-winning 1962 epic LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, Finney turned down the title role because he didn’t want to be tied to a five-year contract with the film’s veteran producer Sam Spiegel. According to Finney’s biographer, Quentin Falk in his 1992 book Albert Finney In Character, the actor told Spiegel, “I don’t know where I want to be in five years’ time – or tomorrow for that matter.”

He even turned down a chance in 2000 to be knighted because he said such honors were a way of “perpetuating snobbery.”

Falk noted that Finney was barely 20 when theater critics hailed him as the new Laurence Olivier: “Yet instead of pursuing either mantle, he became a millionaire.” Finney took profit points on TOM JONES “and made love to beautiful women on several continents.”

Adding, “To some he is still the leading actor of his generation; to others, though, he has suffered an ambition bypass. To even severer critics, he appears to have remained cheerfully indolent, an almost willing failing to fulfill the remarkable early promise.”

I beg to differ. He may not have made a plethora of movies and those he did weren’t always gems, but he was always fascinating to watch.

Finney was one of several acclaimed performers known as the “angry young men,” including Alan Bates, Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay and Terence Stamp, who came to fame in theater and movies in the 1950s and early ‘60s in the British “kitchen sink” dramas made famous in 1956 with John Osborne’s play Look Back in Anger, directed by Tony Richardson for film in 1959.

Finney earned a BAFTA for best actor for his first starring role in the dour, gritty 1960 drama SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING, directed by Karel Reisz and produced by Richardson.

Though some contemporary critics believe the film may be dated, there’s no denying Finney’s star-making performance as Arthur Seaton, a young man working in a bike factory in Nottingham who spends his off-hours drinking in the pubs while carrying on an affair with a married woman (Rachel Roberts) as he also romances a young woman (Shirley Anne Field).

Then came TOM JONES, a rollicking, sexy romp directed by Richardson and penned by Osborne from Henry Fielding’s classic novel in which Finney played the sexiest of rogues. Finney earned his first Oscar nomination for his flawlessly funny and, well, hot performance and the film went on to receive four Oscars including Best Film, Director and Screenplay.

But instead of cashing in on the success of TOM JONES, Finney traveled for nearly a year and then resurfaced in the rarely seen 1964 thriller NIGHT MUST FALL, based on Emlyn Williams hit play. Directed by Reisz, Finney is fine as Danny, a charming young man who is actually an axe murderer who keeps a head in a hat box. But the film just didn’t come together, and it was axed by critics and audiences.

My favorite Finney film is 1967’s TWO FOR THE ROAD, an exceptional romantic comedy drama that explores a decade in the life of a married couple (Finney and Audrey Hepburn). Penned by Frederic Raphael, directed by Stanley Donen and featuring a haunting score by Henry Mancini, TWO FOR THE ROAD is seductive, romantic and sophisticated. Finney and Hepburn have chemistry to spare and for good reason; the two fell in love while making the film.

Finney seemed to have a lot of fun as Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge in the hit 1970 musical SCROOGE, and he then earned his second Oscar nomination for his deliciously eccentric turn as Agatha Christie’s rotund Belgian sleuth in Hercule Poirot in Sidney Lumet’s stylish 1974 MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.

But for most of the 1970s, he concentrated on theater. From 1972-75, he directed plays at the Royal Court Theatre where he was an artistic director, and from 1975 he appeared in several plays at the National Theatre.

The only time I ever saw Finney on a TV chat show was during this time in 1977, when he recorded an album for Motown of all labels, Albert Finney’s Album, for which he wrote the songs. The disc was soon relegated to the bargain bins.

Finney returned to films full force in the 1980s, most notably playing Daddy Warbucks in John Huston’s lavish and laborious 1982 musical ANNIE, as well as in Peter Yates’ THE DRESSER, for which he received his third Oscar nomination, as an aging, hammy stage actor whose dresser (Tom Courtenay) tries to keep the actor’s life and career from falling into disarray.

My favorite Finney performance is in Huston’s UNDER THE VOLCANO (’84), based on Malcolm Lowry’s semi-autobiographical novel. He earned his fourth lead actor nomination for his naked, heart-wrenching performance as an alcoholic former British consul in a small Mexican town on the Day of the Dead in 1938. It’s a performance that will be seared in your memory for a long time.

Finney began the 21st century on a high note with his Oscar-nominated turn as the caring lawyer boss of ERIN BROCKOVICH (Julia Roberts) in Steven Soderbergh’s smart 2000 drama. Two years later, he picked up a BAFTA and Emmy for his full-blooded turn as Winston Churchill in the HBO film THE GATHERING STORM. Of course, he didn’t attend the Emmy ceremony.

He disappeared from view in 2007, returning five years later in THE BOURNE LEGACY and the James Bond blockbuster SKYFALL. He took time away from acting due to his battle of kidney cancer. SKYFALL ended up being his last film and he stole every scene from under the nose of 007 himself, Daniel Craig.

I still remember him sitting at a small table on the patio at the posh Santa Monica hotel Shutters, talking to me in the late afternoon over a cup of coffee. There were no airs with Finney. He was still a working-class guy who just happened to be one of the greatest actors around.

I asked him what it was like to work in films and TV in England in the 1960s.

“It was [a creative time],” he replied. “At that time, we thought, that’s how it is. You don’t realize in the time that it was a very special time. In the 1950s, suddenly novelists started to write about ordinary people in a way that hadn’t been written about before. Then dramatists did, and then there were performers who played those people, and then there were the Beatles. Things became possible for people that hadn’t seemed possible before.”

[sandwichbully]

Lowry Hill Meats, 21 October 2018

  It’s October in Minneapolis, which means a number of things depending on who you talk to. Some people refer to it as pumpkin spice season, people who like to shit on other people’s fun talk shit about pumpkin spice season, people over nine years old marvel at the way leaves change color like that’s some shit they’ve never seen before on an annual basis, errbody in the club gettin on Tinder for cuffing season, and scarf enthusiasts are losing their goddamned nut over their time to shine, but mostly, it just means shitty, pissy weather, night and day.    When it’s not windy, it’s raining; when it’s not raining, it’s just gloomy; when it’s not gloomy, it’s windy; and when it’s not some combination of these bullshit elements driving me to - Wait, did they say the words “trap house jazz” on NPR? Whatever, when it’s not windy, raining, gloomy, shitty, pissy, or some combination of those, it’s fucking freezing and the landlord doesn’t know to turn the fucking heat on. “But, Charlie,” you say, “the leaves change color.”    Say that shit to me one more time and I’ll strangle your ass. I swear to fucking god.    Anyway, that’s just why there hasn’t been a Sandwich Bully for three weeks; it’s just been too shitty to go outside. You know what I did yesterday? It was 42°F, you think I conducted any urban exploring in 42°F? (That’s 5½°C... That’s right, I’m flexing my alt-code muscles.) I baked a frozen pizza (chicken pesto, if you’re curious, and it was meh) and watched a couple Shane Black movies.    You know what I did last weekend? No, I’m seriously asking. I don’t remember what the fuck I did. It probably involved staying inside because it was shitty, gloomy, damp, pissy, and nut-shrinking cold outside and you’re right I’m angry, we got shorted on our summer this year, we had a blizzard in May. That shit aint right. Why did the settlers think establishing a major metropolitan hub up in this motherfucker was a good idea? It’s cold all the time, mosquitoes are the size of cats, gnats everywhere, fucking winter lasts eight months, everybody’s obese because of that, suicide rates seven thousand percent higher than the global average, really!!    But today it’s 55°F, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. I had to take to my bike and get out and just be out. And then I realized that I hadn’t done a Sandwich Bully in a while, so while Ophira Eisenberg wrapped up Ask Me Another, I started Googling delis and then just sandwiches and I narrowed it down to a few choices:    Broder’s Deli (next to last one in that link and frequently mentioned in our halllowed halls)    Lowry Hill Meats    Northbound Smokehouse (top one in that link)

   I also considered just walking to Icehouse, where I never go, because they have a Reuben that - and check the fuck out of this shit out - consists of pastrami, “pickled cabbage”, fontina, and remoulade on rye. There are so many places to start there that I kind of want to hold off on my bloviating over the theory and principles of the Reuben until I actually eat one of these damned things and seeing, “Could it work?” (Preview of my own thoughts on the subject: If they can’t commit to just sauerkraut and have to go with “pickled cabbage”... Uh... Nuh.) †    Now, going to Broder’s would be fine and dandy but it wouldn’t be anything to write about because I can’t keep praising them. And the more I thought about Northbound, the more I didn’t want to go in, alone, get spotted by neighborhood regulars taking a picture of my food and have to explain to them what a blog is nor did I want to wait, so I went to Lowry Hill after a ride around Cedar Lake, went in, asked young Jason Priestly looking homie if he recommended the mysteriously titled “French Exit” which is really just your choice of meat and some fancy cheese with mustard and aioli on a baguette or the Turkey Melt which, you guessed it, is a grilled cheese with turkey on it, here billed identically on the website and in the physical space (psst! Will every other deli in Minneapolis catch up to that? Please and Thank You.) as turkey (obvs), house made American cheese (you read that right, hell, I read that right), aioli, and mustard on brioche.    Jason Priestly tells me the turkey melt, if he has to pick between the two, nothing wrong with the French Exit, it’s just that he likes hot sandwiches and the French Exit is cold. I say let’s do that and grab a Mexican Coke.    Wow, that’s kind of a catchy line. Take it a different way and I could employ that in multiple situations. “Let’s do that and grab a Mexican Coke.” Yeah. I like the way that sounds. Going to put that on a t-shirt, man.

LET’S DO THAT AND GRAB A MEXICAN COKE

   Look at that. That’s US$24.95 on Etsy, baby. That’s a moneymaker.    ANYhoo, after I remind you I exist and drag you along on this journey, I’m sure you’re wondering how this sandwich tasted, especially since last time I went there, I disparaged them a little as all I could taste on their roast beef was vinegar.    Well, I want to make a musical reference. Will this work?

   Get it? Because they’re redeemed, see, and - Wh- No? No good? Not working for you? Fuck you, then.    So the turkey itself was I want to say oven roasted as opposed to smoked as it was perfectly juicy and they seasoned it just right, to get rid of that cardboard turkey taste. The cheese was mildly tangy and didn’t have the same sodiumtastic flavor of, say, Kraft Singles. It paired nicely with the turkey. But the real socially progressive third party candidate embattled by their controversial past in this key battleground state during a midterm election whose discourse has largely been dominated by muck raking and accusations (and acknowledgments) of scandal is, surprisingly, the sweet coarse ground mustard paired with the aioli.    This is a study in the condiments steering the flavor of the sandwich away from just a hot turkey & american, though these were quite good turkey and american, to something semisweet and complex. However, I will note that I didn’t find the sandwich complete until I added the seeded jalapeño slices on the sandwich, giving it a mild kick.    Now, was this anything to lose my mind over? Nah but I was pleasantly surprised. Would I pay nine dollars for this again? Mm, like if I was on a date but I remember where I’m from: I’m from being broke. So twelve dollars for a sandwich and a pop? That’s not something I want to make a habit out of. But considering they probably slaughtered this turkey and they actually made their American cheese and their aioli and their mustard (and Cecil’s charges you the same price for shipped in and say they just don’t have the space to do that themselves), that’s the price you pay for - I hate to use this word - artisanal. That’s what’s going on there: Artisanal meat craft. Their meat case? Has actual parts of animals in it. Not smoked and wrapped in plastic, no. Just bare-assed parts of animals. Pink and red flesh on white bones. It’s the real deal.    It’s just too bad they don’t have kielbasa.    Go give them your money. †  Update, 27 October 2018: Icehouse doesn’t have a Reuben anymore for reasons unknown. They tried to sell me a pastrami and egg sandwich instead and I was all, “Nah.”

[hellyeahomeland]

An HYH Exclusive Interview with Maury Sterling

[Here at HYH, it’s no secret that we love and adore Max. As the most dependable and loyal person in a sea of unreliable characters, it’s hard not to. And it’s about this time every season that we start and rally behind a #ProtectMax campaign. So it’s quite an understatement to say that we are thrilled to feature an exclusive interview with the man who’s brought him to life the last seven years, Maury Sterling. Maury was gracious enough to answer our questions about auditioning for Max, how he’s brought him to life, and his favorite moments working on the series as part of our ongoing “On the Record with...” series. Thank you, Maury! --the HYH team]

Hell Yeah Homeland: You first appeared in the pilot. How did you get involved in the show? What do you remember from your audition and first days of filming? 

Maury Sterling: I auditioned for the show. At the time, didn't know much about it. Neat bit of trivia, I read for the Virgil character. I remember the audition as being... special. Alex Gansa and Michael Klick were in the room. Junie Lowry Johnson and Libby Goldstein were casting. Was one of those that was relaxed, easy, good.  

HYH: We think that everyone needs a Max in their life. What do you love about playing the character?  

MS: I need a Max. I'm terrible with technology. Max has taught me a lot. He has taught me about being simple, about listening, and about telling the truth. From a selfish perspective, I get to go to work and watch great actors do their thing.  

HYH: When we first meet Max, he’s Virgil’s “mute” brother whom Carrie is suspicious of. Now, he’s one of her (if not the) most trusted friends. How would you describe Max’s evolution overall throughout the seasons? How has the way you’ve approached playing him through the years changed?

MS: I never expected the role to have lasted this long. So, I've always taken it one season at a time and it has ended [up] being a happy surprise. That said, my approach to playing Max has stayed the same. The Homeland writers are so strong, and Max's character felt very available from the first episode. That clarity created a great foundation as we moved forward. Max has a line in season two (I think) when he says to Carrie, “I always believed you.” I feel like Max understands Carrie in a way, and isn't shy about telling her when she has screwed up.

HYH: You’ve been a part of all seasons except season five. What has been your favorite scene to film? 

MS: Many scenes. Snooping with Virgil in the pilot. Great one-liners with Rupert. The scenes in season four, with Fara and Carrie, were powerful and heartbreaking. Walking into the bot farm in season six gave me goosebumps. It's really an honor to get to work on the show.

HYH: Carrie’s relationship with Max is one of the few on the show we’ve seen from the very beginning. How would you describe the evolution of that relationship? Why do you think Max has remained loyal to Carrie for so long?

MS: Maybe Carrie, and this would be a question for Claire, can trust Max. A place that she can relax? I find being around people who tell the truth to be very calming. I don't always like what they have to say, but in the short and long run, it creates a stability. And, as I said earlier, I think that Max understands Carrie, and believes in Carrie’s mission to defend the country. And Max is just as committed to the job.  

HYH: Max was by Carrie’s side last season when she was battling for custody of Franny and again reminds her this season that she has to be home in time to get Franny from school. How do you think Max feels about Franny and Carrie’s role as a mother? 

MS: One of my favorite lines this season was, “Hi Franny.”  Max likes Franny. And feels for her in his awkward Max way. Again, I think Max has a mathematical way of looking at things. Meaning, he sees and understands the consequences of actions. It's not about judging Carrie or not judging Carrie, it’s about the cost. Max wants Carrie to win, to succeed. As a person, a mother, a spy. He's also got a big heart. He feels for people. 

HYH: Last season, Max astutely calls out that Quinn has a “thing” about Carrie. Max witnessed their ops and partnership from DC to Islamabad to New York. How do you think Max understood that relationship?

MS: So much drama. Just get on with it for crying out loud!  

HYH: Last year, the “Quax” bromance had quite a following on social media. We really loved Max and Quinn’s unusual but ultimately close friendship and we actually see how torn up Max is about Quinn’s death in the season six finale. Can you talk about what it was like to bring that friendship between Max and Quinn together onscreen with Rupert? 

MS: Unusual is right. At first I don't think Max liked Quinn very much. Quinn was the new guy: bossy, rude, arrogant. And Max is protective of Carrie. But, over time, I think Max appreciated Quinn's direct nature. Looked up to him (not just because he is taller), and greatly respected his skill set. I'm sure some part of Max wants to be like Quinn. And once Max decides to make someone a friend, he is deeply loyal. As for working with Rupert, he is a royal pain in the ass whom I miss. ;) I loved working with Rupert. He is a talented son of a gun.

HYH: We’ve read that there was discussion of Max possibly being somewhere on the Autism spectrum. Can you talk more about this backstory and how it informs your portrayal of the character? 

MS: Yes, early on in rehearsal with Michael Cuesta, the director of the pilot, and Alex Gansa, we decided that Max was probably on the spectrum. It's been interesting to explore that aspect of Max. How it manifests? He doesn't like to be touched. He is generally uncomfortable with others. And he has a keen attention to detail. Max notices anomalies. He is also unfiltered in his way, and doesn't follow expected social graces. I had to validate Max's value in the world of Homeland. He couldn't just be the “weird little brother.”  He needed to serve a purpose. And I think that purpose is he sees the heart of things. Whether it be on the job or personally.  

HYH: Our hearts broke for Max when Fara died, and we still miss the character dearly. Carrie’s role in Fara’s death was a major issue between Carrie and Max at the end of season four. How do you think that’s affected Max and Carrie’s relationship? Do you think Max will ever be able to move on from Fara’s loss and find love? 

MS: I'm not sure Max will move past that. I don't think Max has ever had any expectation that love would be a part of his life. I  think Max always knew that Fara was out of his league. He never really believed that they could be together. But it didn't stop him from loving her. Max loves Carrie too. And he gets the cost of living in her world. The loss of Fara, of Quinn, of shooting someone in Islamabad, all these things weigh on him. I think he stands by Carrie because he cares [for] her and part of that care is [trying to] stop her from causing excess damage. 

HYH: What are your hopes for Max’s future? What would you like to see for the character as the show winds down next season? 

MS: I've been enjoying getting to do some of Max's own missions. Some more of that would be fun.  

HYH: Homeland’s seventh season is wrapping up. What other projects are you working on during the hiatus? 

MS: I'm doing some writing and looking into producing. And may be doing a play this summer.  

HYH: We also love following your wife, producer and actor Alexis Boozer, on social media. You both make a great team! What projects is she currently working on?

MS: She is really busy. She has at least three films in early stages of development. She is a badass.

HYH: You posted on Twitter about shadowing Lesli Linka Glatter as she directed the season seven finale. What are your biggest takeaways from the experience? As an actor, what insights did you gain from observing that aspect of the production? Can we expect to see “Directed by Maury Sterling” on a future episode of Homeland? 

MS: [It] would be nice to see “Directed by Maury Sterling” but I have a ways to go and some more learning to do. Takeaways: Preparation, preparation, preparation. Communication. Know what you want.  Bring your own vision to the table. Surround yourself with good people. Have a point of view. I can't say enough about Lesli Linka Glatter. She is an astounding human. I feel so unbelievably grateful that she let me follow along. Her work ethic, preparation, skill, kindness, boundless energy, [and] celebration of creativity are inspiring. One of her mottos is “best idea wins.” It's not about ego, it's about telling the story. She knows everyone’s name on set. She also taught me about when to stand one’s ground. The entire Homeland team is really impressive to see in action. A level of professionalism from the top down. As an actor, it is really good to appreciate that we are just the tip of a very big triangle. To see the whole machine, the whole crew, and all the work that goes into the moment when the cameras roll. Humbling. And don't [take] things personally, and preparation, preparation, preparation.    

HYH: How did it feel, after six years, for Max to finally get a last name? Is Pietrowski really his last name or was that a cover? 

MS: Ha! It felt very validating. Mandy and I spent a few minutes making sure we were pronouncing it correctly. I also just like being “Max.” And no comment if it is just a cover. 

[movietvtechgeeks]

Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/cleveland-cavaliers-making-wrong-kind-history-lebron-james/

Cleveland Cavaliers making wrong kind of history for LeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers made history Friday night, becoming the first LeBron James led the team to drop two back-to-back games by more than 25 points. The Cavs were absolutely dismantled in Canada as the Toronto Raptors won 133-99. The loss to the Raptors is also the third-straight game in which the Cavs have given up at least 127 points to their opponent. Arguably the worst part about the loss is that the Raptors were without two of their key players, Serge Ibaka and All-Star Kyle Lowry. The Cavs have now lost six of their last eight games starting with a Christmas Day loss to the Golden State Warriors. Much like when they started the season 5-7, the Cavs are scrambling for answers, and head coach Tyronn Lue isn’t happy. “We’ve got to be better,” said Lue. “We know that. But until we play better defensively, I think offensively sharing the basketball, everyone on the same page—and if guys have agendas, we’ve got to get rid of our agendas and play the right way.” When asked about “agendas” on the team, Lue didn’t offer much clarity, noting only that he said, “just what I said.” The leaders of the team don’t seem to take any offense to the comment, however, as LeBron James, Isaiah Thomas, Dwayne Wade, and other Cleveland players all resounded the same basic idea. “We’re in a funk,” said LeBron. “Once again, we’re back to the beginning of the season. Just got to find a way to get out of it. It’s going to start with us and just everybody getting back to what we were doing when we were playing good ball. But we’re so fragile. I don’t know where it kind of went wrong or what happened to switch back, but we’ve got to try to pick it back up and find it.” Back at the beginning of the season, the Cavs held a players’ meeting to put everything on the table and then switched up the starting lineup to get things back on track. LeBron may need to organize another such meeting the ways things are going right now. During the loss Thursday, LeBron was caught on camera screaming in a huddle by the Cavs bench during the loss. Things have reached a boiling point, and it will most likely be up to him to cool everything down. “Just us trying to figure it out,” said James, explaining away the exchange on the sideline. “It’s not for everybody. We came in here and talked about it, and that’s what happens at times. Family’s not always about a bed of roses.” LeBron most likely felt like the only player on the court actually doing anything at times against Toronto. Isaiah Thomas, who was originally slated to sit the game out and rest, decided to go Thursday, but the team may have been better with him on the sideline. Thomas finished 2-of-15 from the field in an overall poor performance. “The biggest thing that I see we’re not doing, we’re not playing for each other right now, offensively and defensively,” said Thomas. “Defensively everybody’s on an island playing defense by themselves. Offensively it’s a lot of one-on-one, no ball movement. It’s things we can fix, that’s the good thing about it, we just have to do it, and we have to do it now. You can lose games, but you can’t get blown out. With how good we really are, we can’t allow these types of games to happen.” IT himself, of course, is partially responsible for the lack of ball movement. As a star point guard in the NBA, he should be expected to realize when he’s having an off-night and start looking to rack up assists instead of shot attempts. Kevin Love, however, might need some clarification from Coach Lue in the locker room. Love doesn’t see a team of selfish player; rather, he sees a team of veterans like himself, LeBron, and others that happen to be going through some tough times. “We’ve got a lot of vets on this team,” said Love. “If there are agendas, I don’t see it. But I’m sure whoever he’s speaking of or speaking to with that, he’ll address it, as we usually do.” Maybe since Love is the only one that can’t seem to find the agendas, he’s the one perpetrating them? Aren’t conspiracy theories fun! Anyways, the Cavs have a lot of improvements to make, and it’s in their best interest to make them quickly with the Warriors coming up again Monday. The Cavs also face the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in their next five games, so it’s easy to see this slump extending further if things aren’t dealt with soon.

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

[sportsloungeblog]

Grading The NBA Draft

The 2019 NBA Draft is this Thursday, June 20, from the Barclays Center. Later the next day or even later that night, I’m sure you’ll see “experts” give out their grades to each team and who they think WON and LOST the draft before anyone ever steps on the court. Of course, this is a ridiculous exercise to try and predict how the Class of 2019 will do before they play. Like most things in sports media today (TV, radio, podcast, websites, etc.) the idea of predicting how anyone is going to perform is a waste of time and energy. There are too many variables and the team’s themselves don’t have the slightest clue how anyone will turn out; All-Star or bust. It’s no fun to wait five years, at least, until we have some sort of idea how these guys developed. We need immediate reaction. A+ to this team and a D to this team for picking players that we don’t know how they will end up. We can though look back at past drafts and see which players were the best, who were busts and what late round gems ended up as Hall of Famers. It doesn’t take much explaining why Chris Paul was the best player taken in the 2005 draft, followed by Deron Williams, David Lee and Andrew Bogut. For this exercise, we’ll use Basketball-Reference Win Shares. Similar to WAR in baseball, Win Shares is an estimate of the number of wins contributed by a player. It attempts to divide up credit for team success to the individuals on the team. It gives you a pretty solid indication of who was a bust or who excelled among their draft class. For reference; Kareem is the all-time Win Shares leader at 273. LeBron is fourth at 226. Jordan is fifth at 214. Chris Paul is at 171, 19th all-time

2000 1. Hedo Turkoglu - 16th overall to Sacramento - 63 WS 2. Mike Miller - 5th overall to Orlando - 60 WS 3. Jamal Crawford - 8th overall to Cleveland - 60 WS 4. Michael Redd - 43rd overall to Milwaukee - 55 WS 5. Kenyon Martin - 1st overall to New Jersey - 48 WS Not a Hall of Famer here in the weak 2000 NBA Draft. Other notables are Morris Peterson and Quinten Richardson, who had some success. The top of this draft did not live up to expectations, even though two of the five best players in the draft were top five picks in Miller and Martin. Stromile Swift (#2 to the Grizzlies), Darius Miles (#3 to the Clippers), and Marcus Fizer (#4 to the Bulls) were all busts, averaging between 8-10 points per game and just under five rebounds. 2001 1. Pau Gasol - 3rd overall to Atlanta - 144 WS - 30th best ever 2. Tony Parker - 28th to San Antonio - 111 WS - 61st best ever 3. Tyson Chandler - 2nd overall to Chicago - 101 WS - 83rd best ever 4. Richard Jefferson - 13th overall to Houston - 83 WS 5. Joe Johnson - 10th overall to Boston - 82 WS Gasol and Parker are likely Hall of Famers that were important pieces to championship teams. Tyson Chandler was still active last season. Chandler turned his career around after a tough start for the Bulls coming straight out of high school. This past season was the first without Joe Johnson and Zach Randolph, multiple time All-Stars. Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, Gerald Wallace and Shane Battier all had their moments too.  A solid class with longevity as it had six players play 17+ seasons, Kwame Brown notwithstanding.  2002 1. Amar’e Stoudemire - 9th overall to Phoenix - 92 WS 2. Carlos Boozer - 35th overall to Cleveland - 80 WS 3. Nene Hilario - 7th overall to New York - 73 WS 4. Yao Ming - 1st overall to Houston - 65 WS 5. Tayshaun Prince - 23rd overall to Detroit - 63 WS Without injuries, Yao Ming is the best player in this class and the rare case of the first overall pick actually being the best player. Yao was induced into the Hall of Fame in 2016 and is likely the only HOF of the Class of 2002. Mike Dunleavy and Caron Butler were top 10 picks that finished with good careers. 

2003 1. LeBron James - 1st overall to Cleveland - 226 WS - 4th best ever 2. Dwyane Wade - 5th overall to Miami - 120 WS - 49th all-time 3. Chris Bosh - 4th overall to Toronto - 106 WS - 74th all-time 4. Carmelo Anthony - 3rd overall to Denver- 101 WS 5. David West - 18th overall to New Orleans - 85 WS One of the best draft classes of all-time. The three best players made up the two title teams for Miami and Carmelo may get into the HOF. One of the great “What If’s” in NBA history is what Detroit could have done if they didn’t pick Darko Milicic with the second overall pick when the Pistons were already an NBA Finals caliber team. Kyle Korver, Mo Williams, Kirk Hinrich and Boris Diaw all had their moments. 

2004 1. Dwight Howard - 1st overall to Orlando - 128 WS - 41st best ever 2. Andre Iguodala - 9th overall to Philadelphia - 96 WS 3. Luol Deng - 7th overall to Phoenix - 74 WS 4. Al Jefferson - 15th overall to Boston - 71 WS 5. Kevin Martin - 26th overall to Sacramento - 61 WS Back-to-back drafts where the best player was the #1 overall pick. Other than Dwight Howard, you have Iguodala and Deng, who combined for three All-Star games. Some may argue for Iguodala in the HOF with a Finals MVP for Golden State and his importance on the defensive end, but he has averaged under 7 ppg, 4 rpg and 3 apg in his five years over his early to mid 30′s with the Warriors. I think Howard should get in the HOF when the time comes. Other than him, there are not a ton of multi-time All-Stars coming from the ‘04 draft. Trevor Ariza, Devin Harris, Josh Smith, Jameer Nelson, J.R. Smith, Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon were all starters that you’d be happy to have on your team.

2005 1. Chris Paul - 4th overall to New Orleans - 171 WS - 19th best ever 2. Deron Williams - 3rd overall to Utah - 77 WS 3. David Lee - 30th overall to New York - 76 WS 4. Marvin Williams - 2nd overall to Atlanta - 62 WS 5. Marcin Gortat - 57th overall to Phoenix - 61 WS One Hall of Fame point guard, an five time All-Star in Deron Williams, two- time All-Star in David Lee and that’s about it for difference makers in the 2005 Draft. The 1st overall pick was Andrew Bogut who had some good years with Milwaukee. I wouldn’t call him a bust, but he was a disappointment considering where he was selected. The ‘05 Draft does have a solid grouping of rotation guys including Lou Williams, Danny Granger, Monta Ellis, Raymond Felton, Channing Frye, Andrew Bynum, Jarrett Jack, Nate Robinson and Charlie Villanueva.

2006 1. LaMarcus Aldridge - 2nd overall to Chicago - 107 WS - 70th best ever 2. Paul Millsap - 47th overall to Utah - 88 WS 3.. Kyle Lowry - 24th overall to Memphis - 86 WS 4. J.J. Redick - 11th overall to Orlando - 58 WS 5. Rajon Rondo - 21st overall to Boston - 58 WS I don’t see any Hall of Fame players from the 2006 Draft. There really wasn’t much talent in ‘06 once you get outside of the 10 best players. The #1 overall pick, Andrea Bargnani of Toronto, was in the not bust, but disappointing category as a string of injuries prevented him from reaching his potential. The top 5-10 in this draft is littered with busts from Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Randy Foye, Sheldon Williams and the what could have been career of Brandon Roy if not for a bum knee.

2007 1. Kevin Durant - 2nd overall to Seattle - 141 WS - 32nd best ever 2. Al Horford - 3rd overall to Atlanta - 85 WS 3. Marc Gasol - 48th overall to the Lakers - 79 WS 4. Mike Conley - 4th overall to Memphis - 71 WS 5. Joakim Noah - 9th overall to Chicago - 61 WS A good draft where three of the four best players were all selected in the top four. Not much depth as it was a very top heavy draft. Greg Oden will join the long list of injury riddled top picks that will never know how good he could have been. Portland took a gamble on another big man and it didn’t pay off. 105 career games.

2008 1. Russell Westbrook - 4th overall to Oklahoma City - 96 WS 2. DeAndre Jordan - 35th overall to the Clippers - 83 WS 3. Kevin Love - 5th overall to Memphis - 78 WS 4. Serge Ibaka - 24th overall to Oklahoma City - 63 WS 5. Brook Lopez - 10th overall to New Jersey - 60 WS One Hall of Famer, a few All-Stars and a bunch of guys after that. It seems that there might be one HOF level player every year or so in the draft, followed by a couple of guys that will make a handful of All-Star teams, followed by about 5-10 guys that will be a starter. Derrick Rose would be in the top five if not for injuries.  2009 1. James Harden - 3rd overall to Oklahoma City - 121 WS - 46th best ever 2. Steph Curry - 7th overall to Golden State - 102 WS 3. Blake Griffin - 1st overall to the Clippers - 75 WS 4. DeMar DeRozan - 9th overall to Toronto - 60 WS 5. Darren Collison - 21st overall to New Orleans - 49 Now we enter the drafts from 10 years ago or less where guys are right in the prime of their careers. An exceptional top of this draft with two guaranteed Hall of Famers in Harden and Curry. Meanwhile, I would say Blake Griffin has lived up to the hype of a #1 overall pick. The #2 pick in this draft, Hasheem Thabeet, would not. 2010 1. Paul George - 10th overall to Indiana - 65 WS 2. Greg Monroe - 7th overall to Detroit - 49 WS 3. Derrick Favors - 3rd overall to New Jersey - 49 WS 4. Gordon Hayward - 9th overall to Utah - 47 WS 5. John Wall - 1st overall to Washington - 44 WS Rankings can still change here since most of these guys still have some prime years left and may play another 6-8 seasons, so the Win Shares will be fewer than previous drafts. You could also see someone like DeMarcus Cousins, who would rank sixth, end up in the top five at the end of his career. 2010 was a solid draft with most of the top tier talent coming from the top 10 picks, which you like to see. 2011 1. Jimmy Butler - 30th overall to Chicago - 66 WS 2. Kawhi Leonard - 15th overall to Indiana - 65 WS 3. Kyrie Irving - 1st overall to Cleveland - 58 WS 4. Kemba Walker - 9th overall to Charlotte - 48 WS 5. Klay Thompson - 11th overall to Golden State - 46 WS There’s really not any debate to the rankings when it comes to Win Shares until now. I think most would say Kawhi is the best player in this draft and that Klay is better than Kemba. There’s not a ton of stars after the top five, but this is as strong of a top five as any as we have seen. All are high level All-Stars and with a few HOF mixed in. Lots of misses in the top 10, including Derrick Williams, Jan Vesely, Bismack Biyombo and Jimmer Fredette. The final pick in this draft, Isaiah Thomas, has been better than most of the top 10. 2012 1. Anthony Davis - 1st overall to New Orleans - 72 WS 2. Damian Lillard - 6th overall to Portland - 70 WS 3. Andre Drummond - 9th overall to Detroit - 56 WS 4. Draymond Green - 35th overall to Golden State - 43 WS 5. Bradley Beal - 3rd overall to Washington - 36 WS Davis joins LeBron and Dwight Howard as the only #1 overall picks to be the best player in their respective drafts. Draymond Green also joins a short list of second round picks to be among the top five in their draft class. Looking back seven years ago now, this just wasn’t a very good draft. #2 overall Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the ninth best players in this draft and he has not had a good career with Charlotte. Most drafts end up with at least 10-15 quality players, but not 2012. 2013 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo - 15th overall to Milwaukee - 53 WS 2. Rudy Gobert - 27th overall to Denver - 52 WS 3. Steven Adams - 12th overall to Oklahoma City - 38 WS 4. Mason Plumlee - 22nd overall to Brooklyn - 31 WS 5. Otto Porter - 3rd overall to Washington - 29 WS It says a lot that only one top 10 pick is among the five best players of the 2013 Draft class. 2006 is the only other year we have looked at where there were not at least two top 10 picks among the five best players. I think Victor Oladipo and C.J, McCollum will end up higher than Porter and Plumlee on this list. 2013 is a contender for having the worst top 10 in history. Oladipo has been very good at times and has shown improvement the last two years. Otto Porter has been ok and McCollum has been a good number two option in Portland. The rest of the top 10 has been terrible. Anthony Bennett, the worst #1 pick in history, followed by Cody Zeller, Alex Len, Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Trey Burke. None of those top 10 are starter level players. 2014 1. Nikola Jokic - 41st overall to Denver - 38 WS 2. Clint Capela - 25th overall to Houston - 31 WS 3. Dwight Powell - 45th overall to Charlotte - 22 WS 4. Jerami Grant - 39th overall to Philadelphia - 18 WS 5. Aaron Gordon - 4th overall to Orlando - 18 WS This should probably be the last draft class that we can look at because even thought it has been five years, a lot can and will change with this top five. Joel Embiid is ranked seventh due to injury, although he has been the best player from this draft. Zach Lavine has had a torn ACL and is much better than his 22nd Win Shares ranking among the Class of 2014. Andrew Wiggins has been a disappointment as the #1 overall pick,  It might be surprising that you have to wait at least five years, if not six in my opinion, to have an accurate determination of who ended up as a draft bust or steal or who won the draft. Of the 15 years (2000-2014), 12 of those ended up with at least two of the top 10 players selected in the top five of best players in that draft. 2014, 2013, 2006 being the exceptions. 2013 is one of the worst top 10′s ever, while 2011 gives the 2003 Draft a good run for best of the past 20 years. Just know that as you watch the 2019 NBA Draft, the “experts” and GM’s don’t have any more clue than you watching at home who is actually going to make it and who isn’t. If they did, then Anthony Bennett wouldn’t have been a #1 pick and Giannis wouldn’t have lasted until the 15th pick in the same 2013 Draft..

[thewidowstanton]

Sonia Bel Hadj Brahim, street dancer, specialising in popping and waacking, Compagnie du Hanneton

Sonia Bel Hadj Brahim comes from La Courneuve in the Seine Saint Denis area, north of Paris. As a street dancer specialising in popping and waacking she is also a talented soul, locking and hip hop dancer, who performs under the stage name SonYa. Having first learnt to dance in 2004, she became a waacking pioneer in 2011 when the style was new in France, and took part in many dance battles. Sonia co-founded and was a member of La Mécanique des Naïfs and Compagnie Bandidas and, in 2016, she co-founded Collectif Ma Dame Paris. She has also performed for Compagnie Point Zéro, Compagnie Rualité, Compagnie par Terre and Compagnie Chriki’z.

Now Sonia has joined the James Thierrée/Compagnie du Hanneton theatrical production The Toad Knew, which runs at Sadler's Wells in London from 3-7 May and at the Lowry in Manchester from 10-11 May 2017 as part of a European tour. She chats to Liz Arratoon via email, thanks to Axel Satgé – from the show's UK producer Crying Out Loud – who kindly translated their conversation.

The Widow Stanton: You have a wonderful name. Where are your parents from? Sonia Bel Hadj Brahim: My name is originally from Tunisia, Jerba to be precise. My father is Tunisian and my mother is French and Romanian. Do you come from a dance background? My parents are not professional dancers, but I’ve often seen them dancing. I grew up in a family that likes to dance, for fun. As a teenager, I could also spend entire afternoon watching Trace TV or any other TV channels dedicated to urban lifestyles. The movie Street Dancer also came out at around the same time, and it prompted me to dance! How old were you when you started dancing? I first danced in my bedroom and took my first classes when I was 14.

What attracted you to street dance? Back then, I knew there were two sorts of dance: classical and hip hop. I first started dance in a local school, and what we were doing was called hip hop. But we were dancing to funk music. I knew nothing about what we were doing, all I knew is that I was loving it. Later on, my first teacher, Pascal Luce, told us that the dance he was teaching us was actually called popping. From then on, I invested even more in that style, and I still carry on popping today. Describe waacking for us. Waacking was born in the 1970s on the West Coast of the US within the gay Afro-American and Latino communities. It was danced to underground disco. 'Waack' is onomatopoeic for the French equivalent of ‘You suck’; it comes with a hand movement. That dance was also inspired by cinema and music divas. The waacking combines different movements: the waack (the arm movements), the posing (posing as if you are having your portrait taken), the punking (for the dramatic and theatrical side), and the social dances (we use the steps you do in a club, in a ballroom, etc).

How did you get into it? I got into waacking looking at YouTube videos; I would analyse the movement, the atmosphere, the energy, and then, of course, practice. Does it have a strong following in France? Waacking does exist in France, but it does not have a strong following.

But people there will be familiar with the term? I would use the word hip hop as a generic term if the person in front of me doesn’t know the exact word. Do you teach others? I taught waacking for three years in the same school where I first started taking classes. I also lead workshops here and there, but at the moment I’m not teaching. You've co-founded a few companies, tell us about what the most recent one, Collectif Ma Dame Paris, does. Ma Dame Paris is made up of three waacking dancers: Princess Madoki, Mounia and myself, SonYa. We want to shed a new light on waaacking and go against the usual stereotypes associated with that dance: high heels, glitter and disco. We want to make a contemporary version of this dance that was born in the 1970s. In our show Waackez-vous français? (Do you Waack French?), we use French music, and we follow different fashions, more inspired by the dandies. It’s like we want to surprise ourselves and give a new life to the dance style that we like so much.

Were you aware of James Thierrée's work before you joined The Toad Knew? Yes, I had seen James’ first show The Junebug Symphony on DVD. I love that show.

We love it too, especially as our friend Raphaëlle Boitel was in it. How had James found you? I think he saw a video of me dancing at the season’s opening night for the National Theatre de la Danse, Chaillot, in Paris. I was dancing with the company Par Terre directed by Anne Nguyen. We presented a show called Autarcie(…). Tell us about The Toad Knew. I saw the show – La Grenouille avait raison was the French title – at Theatre du Rond-Point in Paris in December. I was amazed by the scenography. Each character has a strong individual identity, and I even dreamt of joining them on stage. I was really happy when I found out I would be part of the team. What is your role? In the piece, I am Sacha the younger sister of Ilia, played by James. I dance, but I also act. I do things I’m not really used to doing in the shows I dance in, and that’s really exciting.

You replaced the contortionist Valérie Doucet. How has the show changed to accommodate your different skills? I don’t have the technique of a contortionist. James adapted the role so that it suited my skills, my sensitivity and personality. It’s a real challenge to take over a role. What's it like to work with James? It’s very nourishing working with him. He pays a lot of attention to detail, and he will go the extra mile to see if an idea works or not. It makes us want to give the best of ourselves for each show and for ourselves, too. What has been your career highlight? My highlight would be Autarcie(…). Being in this show gives you a really strong sense of freedom. It feels like it’s a game for grown-ups. When I think of my own work, I draw inspiration from that show. Do you have any particular ambitions for the future? For the future… I’d like to keep on performing on stage, because I love it. I also want to carry on making my own shows, choreographing, assisting and dancing.

Sonia appears in The Toad Knew by James Thierrée's Compagnie du Hanneton at Sadler's Wells in London from 3-7 May and from 10-11 May 2017 at the Lowry in Manchester.

Picture credit: Richard Haughton

For tickets at Sadler's Wells click here

For tickets at The Lowry click here

Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells @JamesThierreeFR @CryingOut_Loud

Follow @TheWidowStanton on Twitter

[torentialtribute]

US Open 2019 betting tips, picks and odds: Tiger Woods can tame Brooks Koepka at Pebble Beach

The 119th US Open, the 450th major championship being played, is played on most American competitions famous location, Pebble Beach Golf Links. CHRIS CUTMORE runs through the gambling market and offers some tips on where the smart money can lie between the favorites and those who fly under the radar

THE FAVORITES

Brooks Koepka has won four of his last eight majors, has finished second and first in the two played so far this year, is trying to win his third consecutive US Open at Pebble Beach this week and is at the top of the world ranking. With prizes available up to 10/1, you should be an idiot not to bet on him in a major now.

This idiot will now propose a large number of players to bet on instead of Koepka.

Two words will suffice for the first: Tiger Woods . If that is not enough for you, consider this. He is the Masters champion (still surreal, but true), he is a blast of form (with the exception of Augusta's USPGA hangover) and his 15-stroke victory at Pebble in 2000 remains the best four laps anyone ever a big one ever. Nobody gets green anymore in regulation, he is the best iron player in the world – and iron play is the key to winning here. As long as he has been able to practice as much as he would like, it is not a good idea: Tiger is the man to beat here. On 1/13, the bookmakers don't think so, but here are two more words that will suffice to answer them: Tiger Woods.

<img id = "i-7b54b44f2e223bc9" src = "https://dailym.ai/2X9wbCE image-a-1_1560326875786.jpg "height =" 374 "width =" 634 "alt =" Brooks Koepka is rightfully the favorite to win this week's US Open at the glorious Pebble Beach Favorite to the US Open at the glorious Pebble Beach to Win "

Brooks Koepka is a US Open at Glorious Pebble Beach

Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy both former US Open champions, deserve to be ranked right behind Woods and Kopeka. Johnson has two wins at Pebble and, after 54 holes, led the last time the US Open was held here in 2010, while McIlroy blew the field to win in Canada last week. But golf betting at all times is all about value, and with both priced at 9/1 there are better options, particularly the pebble requirement to place many tee holes instead of power tee shots neutralizes the biggest weapon in their bags , the driver . Probably.

Instead, look at a number of other important winners who emerge at this legendary class-leading track, such as Jack Nicklaus in 1972, Tom Watson 10 years later, Woods in 2000 and most recently Graeme McDowell in 2010.

<img id = "i-c3a7b622b766dfff" src = "https://dailym.ai/2R69MRg 7131795-image-a-2_1560326881611.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" But Tiger Woods can be expected to be in good shape after winning the Masters

But Tiger Woods can be expected to be right in the hunt after winning the Masters

To start there is Jordan Spieth (20/1) and Justin Rose (28/1).

Spieth fights back from an extreme slump but three straight top-of-the-10s, true at the bottom of the USPGA, a hot putter and three majors under his belt makes the American view.

Rose is now also a US Open champion and until recently was the number 1 in the world for an unexpected dip in form.

Open champion Francesco Molinari [bewerken] [lijst toevoegen] Do not drink alcoholic beverages, (19459002)

Former Masters Winner Adam Scott (35 / 1) This is one of the most popular games of all time, 1) also offers a convincing case. He has carved a few second places this season, including Rose at Torrey Pines and in his last start at the Memorial, and his vastly improved putting puts these most stylish ball strikers at the top of the pile, with the added bonus of a big prize

Jordan Spieth hits his tee on the fifth hole during a practice round this week "Jordan Spieth hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during a practice round this week

Jordan Spieth hits his tee-shot on the fifth hole during a practice round this week

Finally there is Webb Simpson He may have the 2012 Open of 2012 McIlroy in Can, but his name has not often jumped off the page as a potential winner in the majors, mainly due to his lack of driving distance, which is no problem here and his demon putter is a huge weapon. ada, fifth in the Masters and quietly grinding the top 20's in five of his last six majors suggests that a big win is due. The former Players champion is available on a 50/1 delicious

There are also a bunch of classy big winners ready to break their ducks in the big four. of this list is Patrick Cantlay (18/1). No informant in the world is likely to ignore the American this week, given his form. He went close to the Masters and the USPGA, won the Memorial at his last start and has five top 10 & # 39; s in his last seven tournaments. Jack Nicklaus told him to cheer up and one look at his statistics should be all he needs: take a tour choice from iron play to bring scrambling to par-4 scoring, there are no weaknesses. Nuff said.

<img id = "i-1561debc96e7b785" src = "https://dailym.ai/2X4wmzo image-a-4_1560327133472.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-1561debc96e7b785" src = "https://dailym.ai/2WgE5KP /12/09/14682642-7131795-image-a-4_1560327133472.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" Patrick Cantlay is in a glowing hot shape and has great courage to do well on Pebble in -red-hot form and is very popular to go well on Pebble "

Patrick Cantlay is in piping hot form and is very tempted to go well at Pebble

Tommy Fleetwood (35/1) has the game but no form to talk about.

Rickie Fowler (28/1) goes under the radar for eleven considering its relative quiet recent form, but he is powerfully tempting given his brilliantly accurate, well-worn short irons. In his all-round game, this week has taken away some of the pressure from his sometimes wandering rider, pulling the top 10's in majors for fun and can really flourish with less pressure on his shoulders this week. [19459005

Xander Schauffele (28/1) thumps on the door louder than one of the other young guns, with four top-10's played in just nine majors, an incredible start to his search for a large (45/1) of his class given his behavior

No one can blame This year – just ask his Mexican caddy, Sergio Garcia and the official Ohio officials – but that would all have been forgotten this week – and it seems to be his best chance to win another major. Fourth last week, fourth on Bethpage, 12th on the Masters and two wins to his name this season ticks all courses. His iron game is dialed in and his putter is more than solid. Bite on any bad feelings towards him and continue this week.

Webb Simpson (50/1)

OUTSIDE BET

Matt Kuchar (45/1) Phil Mickelson

] (55/1) also lost a few fans with his antics in this tournament two years ago when he hit a moving ball on Shinnecock Hills, but he will still give him many enthusiasts in his home state this week. He only needs this to complete the Grand Slam career and six runner-up finishes in the US Open and five previous wins at Pebble, what's the fun? Well, his age for starters. He will be 49 on Sunday, which means that he is perhaps the oldest big winner in history. Then there is some hopeless form. And the stats are ugly in all of this week's major stats: pits, proximity to the fairway hole, and strokes achieved in approach.

Given the quality of the course, the power of the field and the mental demands of the US Open, it is hard to see an outsider winning here. But Gregory Havret did that almost in 2010, so it's worth looking at a few long shots, given that we always bet on every bet and there is a huge amount to be gained with many bookmakers who pay 10 places days .

Phil Mickelson is said to be a fairy-tale winner, but his game didn't look good "

<img id =" i-e8c3df67ef9a0152 "src =" https: //i.dailymail .co.uk / 1s / 2019/06/12/09 / 14682668-7131795-image-a-5_1560327190477.jpg "height =" 411 "width =" 634 "alt =" Phil Mickelson would be a fairy-tale winner, but his game did not look good "

Phil Mickelson would be a fairy-tale winner, but his play did not look good

Henrik Stenson leads the summit of the iron game cards, but his putting is confused, causing the former Open champion to win a prize of 70/1.

Shane Lowry has three straight top-10 & # 39; s, including the USPGA and grew up playing coastal golf, and he also won in Abu Dhabi earlier this year What price men of Ireland back to back US Opens at Pebble Beach 75/1 because you ask. l meanwhile has no pressure on his shoulders, but looks fine – 110/1 is very attractive.

Matt Wallace first-round leader (80/1) (19459005)

Adam Scott top & rest of the world & # 39;

Bethpage, finishes third and just looks & # 39; er & # 39; out, whatever that is. A bird horse machine, the parsing of pars may not be his style, but the prize is great for a series winner with the necessary fire in his stomach. Former champion Jim Furyk is available for the same price, and even though 49 are still little better than him from the short grass, of which he will play a lot this week. A sneaky top 10 is not excluded.

* All odds, from oddschecker, are the best prize at the time of publication. This year Sky Bet, Betfair, Paddy Power, Boyle Sports and Coral are paying up to 10 places at the USPGA. All opportunities and conditions available for the bookmaker

[19459005

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[johnpaceylowrie-blog]

"Ocularists In Training" Behind The Scenes Blog | The Ocularist, S1E4

‘Ello there.

Welcome back to John Pacey-Lowrie Ltd’s ‘behind-the-scenes’ blog! As I’m sure you know by now this is the place to learn a little bit more about ‘The Ocularist, Series One’, written by moi (Fraser Lowrie).

Have you read last week’s blog yet? Alex, my brother, wrote it and my God is it funny! Simply scroll down to check it out…

October… can you believe we’re in October?! This week’s episode ‘Ocularists In Training’ was filmed all the way back in July at Nottingham Trent University, just a couple of weeks after John arrived back from Indonesia. 

This chapter of the series is quite a special one really because this is the first time that we actually get to see John in his home territory making eyes and teaching guys (and a lady). 

As with most of the instalments, this one was tricky to film. The students had paid to be there and so it was important that I stayed out of their way and let them learn as much as they could possibly learn in the time that they had. It was also very mucky in the workshop and there was dust aaalll over my equipment!

The Opening Shot

This was interesting for me to watch back. Many mornings I am the first one to arrive in the office and the first thing I do is switch on that lamp…

I knew I wanted to get a shot of Sean entering but I had no idea when he’d arrive… So the very moment I heard any movement on the stairs outside the door I shot up and pressed ‘Record’ on the camera. Four times I did this until finally it was the man himself who came through the door.

After this shot there are a few cuts of me and Sean bringing all the equipment to the car. I had no idea just how much stuff they have to take to these lessons! I had planned on doing a load of different shots for this scene but I felt like I had to help out with the load.

The Faces

EVERY TIME John gets his hands on one of those creepy plastic heads he just HAS to make it speak. 

How weird is it to have a box of plastic heads? Each one with an eye missing?? Well, apparently that’s just a normal day here at JPL.

I can’t sit here and pretend I know how those things are made but I do believe they were made by Ryan. Ryan works for the university in the workshop and seems to have lots of fun making body casts and all sorts of other crazy things.

The Stool Saga

In no world should I have had to put this story in the film… I mean it’s a story about John and Sean trying to find the correct stools. It’s not exactly “good content”. The things is… this felt like it took HOURS to find the right bloody chairs!! 

Up and down, 

back and forth,

room to room, 

there was no sign of the correct seats. Exactly one minute of this ten minute episode was dedicated to that saga. What a carry on.

I felt really bad for John and Sean when they realised that they had forgotten a tonne of stuff. What you guys don’t see in this film is that the prep for this week of teaching takes about a month (if not longer!). So the idea that they had spent all that time planning to then have to drive back to the clinic and pick up a load of bits is a bit sad.

Day One, Four & Five

The week seemed to go really well. All the students were immediately ready to get started on learning/making the prosthetics and John & Sean seemed pleased with all the progress being made. 

When watching this episode you may have wondered why there wasn’t a lot of footage of the students’ works or John’s teaching. The reason for this is that there is already a 20 minute video online of John teaching this NTU course and I didn’t want to repeat what was already out there. 

Really this episode was all about showing the world what the course is like and showing how much effort both John & Sean put into making it happen!

“Does anybody want to go and have a beer?”

10.30am. It was 10.30am when John asked this question. There was no definitive answer from the group. I think they all wanted to say “yes” but they felt that they shouldn’t because, well, it was in the morning. Anyway, eventually we all decided that we’d go and have a swift one to celebrate the end of the week. Buuuut, guess what? There are no bars open at 10.30am!

We travelled up and down the city but had no luck. So we went to Cafe Nero instead. Probably for the best, ey?

Music

“Workshop Phunk” This song uses a sample of a rather famous song and that’s all I can possibly say.

“Training Wheels” is the tenth song made for the series!

“LHR/CGK” (from episode 2)

“Couchella” This song has been used in 3 out of 4 episodes. I think it’s become the song of the series ^.^

There you have it! Now you know some of the behind-the-scenes details you can go and watch it again ;)

Till next time! - Fraser Lowrie (@lowriemusic - Insta, FB, Twitter, Spotify)

[hoopslab]

Sloan Conference Day 2

See my review Sloan Conference Day 1

The  MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference wrapped up on Saturday, with more fireworks than Day 1. I was able to watch some outstanding panels that I’ll go over below, and before the day was out I had a Sloan tweet go viral and get (at last count) 201,573 impressions with 26,280 engagements, which is always fun. More on that below. Let’s talk analytics!

(Always nice to hear from a panel including Jackie Mac, an NBA player and three GMs that have accounted for the last two NBA champions between them)

Sports Gambling: Gambling on Mainstream Appeal, the Future of Sports Betting

The first panel I walked in on was talking about sports gambling, which immediately made me think of my colleague Chris Liss. The essence of the discussion was that legalizing sports gambling in the US would a) drive more interest in sports viewing, b) drive a push in the technologies used for sports analysis, and c) perhaps lead to innovations that could move outside of the sports world (the perhaps hyperbolic, perhaps not example given was that perhaps the next Air BnB might result from this type of technology push). Much like the arguments to legalize marijuana, the points offered by the panel make sense, and I’ll be watching to see if anything comes of it.

Ball Don’t Lie: The Future of NBA Analytics

This was the talk that I really wanted to watch. The panel included Mike Zarren (Director of Analytics for the Celtics), Dean Oliver (former analytics for, most recently, the Kings), Vinny del Negro (former player and coach), Sue Bird, Luis Scola and moderated by Zach Lowe. 

There were a lot of fascinating parts to this discussion. The panel was asked about where the next frontiers for player evaluations could be. Dean Oliver said the focus has to be on defense, because it’s still so poorly measured. Zarren was more interested in smaller stuff, like quantifying the quality of screens set, who sets the best screens, who gets stuck on screens most often, and how much that affects an offense.

The panel was asked if analytics help players. Scola said that it helped, because players are taught to play by feel, but that analytics could help teach tendencies and habits that, when trained for, could become part of your feel and give an edge over other players.

They were asked how NBA front offices determine if a new player will or won’t fit their team. Zarren said that you look at a player’s skillset, and the analytics that judge individual skills, and see if those are skills that your team needs. Oliver emphasized that many analytics approaches try to aggregate a player’s total contributions, while in determining if a new player would fit the front office wants to NOT aggregate and instead treat each skill separately. 

Zarren gave an example of how, when Kevin Garnett was in Boston, they knew that the offense was set to generate long midrange jumpers. So, they looked around the NBA, and the four players that shot the best from those places on the floor were Dirk Nowitzki, Garnett, Chris Paul, and Brandon Bass. While Nowitzki and Paul were unobtainable, they could get Bass, and they did and were happy with the fit.

The panel was asked how to determine who should be the MVP this year (Lowe is a voter). Zarren said that he would judge by who had the biggest impact on winning, using “an adjusted +/- per minute thing”. Oliver compared Russell Westbrook’s triple-doubles to Miguel Cabrera winning the Triple Crown a few years back...that the achievement doesn’t directly impact, but that it was a unique achievement and that could drive the vote.

I tried to get a question asked, using their Twitter mechanism: 

There's push-back (e.g. Barkley, fans) against #analytics as player evaluators. How much do NBA teams trust numbers? #FutureofBball #SSAC17

To get a question on the list, you had to get the most mentions on Twitter. My question got to the top of the list, but Lowe didn’t ask. At one point he said, “I’m not asking that,” which, in hindsight, may have been for my question. Either way, though, was a very good panel.

Daily Fantasy Strategy

This panel was very tough for me to go to, because it was at the same time as the Mark Cuban interview on politics. Cuban was trending the whole day, so I kind of felt left out for having missed it. But one of my jobs is to write about DFS, giving advice, so I figured that the Daily Fantasy Strategy panel was where I needed to be.

The panel was comprised of Brandon Adams, who went ABD at Harvard in economics and game theory; Peter Jennings, an economics guy that started his own DFS platform; Renee Miller, a neuroscientist by training, and moderated by Neil Paine. 

There was a lot of good stuff talked about, but some of my main takeaways were:

1) DFS tournaments are the types of game play that have the most opportunity for strategizing, and that high variance was a positive.

2) NBA DFS has the least variance of the major sports, which can either be a good thing (e.g. have general idea of what to expect by a star in a given game) or a bad thing (not as much variance, which is harder to strategize).

3) Lots of opportunity to go next level with analysis, and improve DFS game planning. For example, correlation matrices for a team to determine whether one player playing well affects a teammate. For example, pretty much every game that Ricky Rubio plays well in, Karl-Anthony Towns ALSO has a big game. Big positive correlation.

4) Don’t take any given day of DFS competition personally, and try to take it all as a numbers game. Take chances on high-variance players with bigger upside over low-variance players with lower ceiling, because on the days that those high-variance players hit, it is more valuable to a given team’s chances to cash than steady production at lesser ceilings.

I got a lot of good ideas from this talk, and will incorporate as much as I can into my DFS Lesson Plans and articles moving forward.

Building a team around a superstar

This was the last major panel, and the highlight of the conference. The panel:

*David Griffin, GM of the defending NBA Champion Cavaliers

*Bob Myers, GM of the former NBA Champion Warriors

*Masai Ujiri, GM of the contending Toronto Raptors

*Luis Scola, ubiquitous NBA player

*Moderated by Jackie McMullan, sportswriter extraordinaire

This panel was a blast, with some of the best minds in the sport talking about the ways that they build their teams. Some highlights:

*Myers said they essentially lucked into Kevin Durant joining the team. He didn’t prepare for it, because he didn’t think it was possible. But once it was possible, they pounced using lessons they had learned while going after Andre Iguodala a couple of years earlier. Also, he spoke with Stephen Curry before signing Durant, using the analogy of inviting a second lead singer to join the group.

*Griffin said that when making big decisions, like trading Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love, they do a full cost/benefit analysis and make the decision.

*Jackie Mac opined that LeBron James had overstepped recently by going public with his thoughts of who the Cavaliers needed to bring in. Griffin said that LeBron did overstep, and he told him so, but that LeBron was very coachable and that the whole situation was a positive.

*Massai said that he tries to build from within where possible, but that when an opportunity comes for talent you have to swing for the fences. The example was given of how the Raptors had given up a first round pick to get Serge Ibaka, who could leave as a free agent this summer. Massai said that they felt it was worth the risk, especially because they also owned the first round pick of the Clippers this year.

*Massai also said that if you put LeBron James on the court with the panel, it would still be a playoffs team.

*Analytics are very important. But at the same time, can’t measure “want it” (Dre’ note: this is what I call “that dog”). Example of Lowry having a chip on his shoulder because of the way he was passed over. Jackie Mac gave the example of Magic Johnson refusing to let practice end until his team won the scrimmage.

*Luis Scola says that superstars, real superstars, make their teammates want to play and do their best for them. That when he played with guys like Tim Duncan or Kyle Lowry, as a team, you are so grateful to them for their greatness, and how they carry the team along, that you’re just willing to die for that guy, to get him where he wants to go.

*Jackie asked about a superstar that made the team rally around him in that way. Myers gave the example of Draymond Green getting suspended for the game in the Finals, but that he brings so much to the team that they rallied around him and gave him full support, even in the exit interviews when the pain was the freshest. 

Griffin spoke of LeBron just carrying the entire team in the 2015 playoffs, when Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were both injured. Griffin reported that Kyrie told him he didn’t realize how great LeBron was until he saw it up close, in person.

Masai gave a great example for Kyle Lowry, how he kicked a pass to a teammate (Landry Fields) who had a nerve issue in his wrist that made him unable to shoot well, but Fields made the trey and Lowry went NUTS. He was so happy, that this teammate who wanted to play but was unable to do so to his level, made the big shot to win the game. Masai said that let him know that Lowry was the one, the star he wanted to build around.

I literally took pages of notes from this panel, so I’m not going to go in depth and report everything. But there were a couple of cool things that I was a part of.

*I tried, again, to get a question asked. Again, my question got more likes and retweets than any other and made it to the IPAD for the moderator to ask. And again, the moderator ignored it...kind of. Here was the question:

#BeyondSuperstar Bob: you say Steph & KD the lead singers, but #analytics say Draymond biggest impact. How do you reconcile this? #SSAC17

Jackie didn’t ask Myers that question. But, as a follow-up to what she originally asked, she asked Myers if he considered Draymond a superstar. Myers said that he didn’t know, and didn’t care. That Draymond helped his team win, and that if that made him a superstar then so be it.

*And of course, during the panel Myers tossed off a one liner about the relative power of how much NBA players are paid. Here was the tweet:

Bob Myers, GM of @warriors : "We've got 2 guys w/ shoe deals bigger than what we pay. They play for us as a hobby" #SSAC17 #HoopsLab

It’s always fun to have a tweet go viral. And that epitomizes some of the greatness of the Sloan Conference. You’re in a place with some of the greatest minds and most important decision makers in the NBA. And if you’re in the building, you never know when you’ll hear something great. Stay tuned for more Sloan Conference coverage sprinkled into the Hoops Lab moving forward, because I only scratched the surface here. And I’m already looking forward to, and hoping to go back next year.

[junker-town]

Football's over, so get caught up on the 2016-17 NBA season right here

The Warriors are dominating, there’s intrigue lower in the playoff picture, and a number of new stars have risen.

Been too busy watching football to keep up with the NBA? You’re in luck. In this week’s FLANNS & ZILLZ, we catch you up on what you’ve missed.

ZILLER: Football is officially over. (And how!) That means, per tradition, the wider sports world takes keener attention on the NBA as we roll toward All-Star Weekend and approach the stretch run. So we'll take this opportunity to talk about what more casual basketball fans need to know about what's happened so far this season.

There's at least one thing that is absolutely no surprise: the Golden State Warriors are terrifyingly good. They won't break the wins record again, but Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have learned how to play off one another, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have maintained their All-Star play and ... I can't be the only one losing faith that anyone can even compete with the Warriors in the playoffs. They are ridiculously good.

FLANNERY: From this vantage point in February, I think it's going to be a bloodbath come playoff time. Very few teams can match up with them and the ones that offer a tough counter (like say, Memphis) don't have the horses to win four games in seven.

I love the Spurs, but I don't see it. The Rockets are the best story of the year, but does anyone really think they can defend them well enough to win a series? The Clippers are still that X-factor team, but they're also still the Clippers. The one team that we know can give them problems is Cleveland, and the Cavs are kind of a mess right now.

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

What do you make of the rest of the West? Take Golden State out of the equation and it's basically the East with a couple of better teams at the top.

ZILLER: The Spurs are better than anyone in the East (including Cleveland right now, in my opinion). I don't know that there's any real gap between the next few West teams and the better East teams, though. Boston is clicking behind Isaiah Thomas and Washington is surging. I'm not convinced the Rockets are better than those teams or Toronto. And Houston is clearly the third best team in the West due to the Clippers' maelstrom of calamity.

Briefly, considering the city's abysmal sports history, we should note that the Wizards are having their best season in maybe 30 years. After a slow start John Wall looks like an MVP candidate* and Scott Brooks is avenging his reputation. There is a small but legitimate chance the Wizards could make the NBA Finals.

I asterisked the MVP comment because there's no way John Wall is an MVP candidate because that race is freaking crazy.

FLANNERY: I think people are overthinking the MVP race, but that tends to happen around this time of the year. It's been a five-player race and it should stay a five-player race. Those five being James Harden, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. No offense to Wall or Kyle Lowry or even Steph Curry, but that's the list. (Also Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, etc. etc.)

And I'm sorry but Isaiah Thomas is not a top-5 MVP candidate when you consider the players above. Who does he bump: LeBron? Kawhi? That pains me to say that because IT is having a magical ride. There is no more fun NBA experience than Isaiah in the fourth. He’s absolutely one of the best stories of this season, but you can't win an MVP on narrative alone.

I still think it comes down to Harden or Westbrook, but there's a smart case to be made for Kevin Durant. I wonder if anyone will make it.

ZILLER: There is a case, and surely one of our friends in the Bay Area will make it, but there's just no way. I like to think we've come far enough since LeBron was basically blacklisted from a number of ballots, but Durant's decision was met with more hostility from even player liberty advocates like us. It's just not feasible. Best he can hope for is Finals MVP, which is one helluva consolation.

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

You mentioned Giannis. The rise of the young weirdo superstars (the unicorns, as some call them) has been a bright spot so far this season.

FLANNERY: That's been the brightest spot in the league by far and that group keeps expanding. If you've been away from a while, you ought to get hip to Nikola Jokic and Myles Turner, because they are now members of the crew along with Giannis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid.

(Quick aside: are we ready to grandfather AD out of this club? This will be his fourth All-Star nod, which is three more than everyone else here combined. I'm not -- he's still only 23 -- but I'm curious to see when that consensus gets reached?)

I'm a little concerned, however, that none of those dudes are going to make the postseason. The Bucks and Giannis seemed like a sure thing, but they've hit the skids. The Wolves are taking their time and the Knicks are ... so very Knicks. It would be a shame if the young'uns get skunked.

How do you like these playoff races? There's some intrigue in the East, for sure. The West seems pretty straightforward except for that last spot, aka the saddest pursuit in sports.

ZILLER: Anthony Davis is a 4-time All-Star. He's either the president of the club or he's graduated from the club. I can't decide.

The East is funky because there's a vast muddle in the standings from Nos. 7-13. Three of them will make the playoffs. Five won't. We have our guesses but it's messy. That's a version of intrigue for the fans involved but it's hard for us neutrals to get too hepped up about.

The West No. 8 race, as you mention, is just plain sad. Everyone wants it and no one deserves it. May I suggest a play-in tournament, except do it 2-on-2 NBA Jam style? I'll pass on 48 minutes of Pelicans-Blazers or Kings-Nuggets. But Anthony Davis and Buddy Hield vs. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum? DeMarcus Cousins and, uh, erm, Garrett Temple (I guess) vs. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray? I'm there.

By the way, we should mention that the Jazz have officially arrived. The Timberwolves have, uh, not.

FLANNERY: Okay first, I LOVE that idea. Let's use NBA Jam rules to settle every minor positioning thing from here on out.

We never talk about Utah, but the Jazz are legit. I'm going to keep banging that Rudy Gobert drum from here until eternity. It will be fascinating to see what happens with Gordon Hayward this summer. If he sticks around and the young guys like Rodney Hood and Trey Lyles can take another step ... the Jazz have major aspirations.

And that's yet another reason why I am not concerned about the trajectory of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves on their schedule, not ours. We all wanted Utah to be that team last year and it took them another season to get healthier and stronger. The Wolves have been playing better and I am encouraged by Tom Thibodeau's public statements. He sees the big picture and they are not finished yet. Let Kris Dunn get his feet wet, figure out what you have with Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, add a veteran or two to round things out and they'll be just fine.

I'd love to have them sneak into the playoffs. Of all the teams fighting for that spot they could really use the psychic boost as well as the experience.

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Here's the obligatory Cavs question: You think they're vulnerable? (I do not.)

ZILLER: In the East? Not really, though Kevin Love has some back issues and given their depth and LeBron's heavy workload, that's a potential problem depending on what happens at the deadline. But as someone who picked the Cavaliers to win the title last year ... I'm not seeing it right now. The Warriors are too dope.

The trade deadline is up right after All-Star. We do not expect fireworks. But then, that's usually when we get those fireworks, huh?

FLANNERY: I guess? I think that's just where we are with the deadline. Teams aren't in a rush to acquire pending free agents, draft picks are even more valuable now, and there's a lopsided amount of potential buyers versus would-be sellers. That could all change, of course, and I can count a half-dozen players who would be mighty interesting from Paul Millsap to Goran Dragic, the Magic frontline, and even Jimmy Butler. Free Melo? Free Melo!

We've been advocating for teams to dump their losses and get right with the lottery guards for months now, but no one listens to us.

I am reminded that the Clippers traded a first round pick to get two months out of Jeff Green and that the Cavs stole Channing Frye last year, so we'll see some weird things happen, for sure. I would certainly like to see the Raptors make a deal and the Celtics really need a live body up front. As always, the best deals are the ones we don't hear about.

I've been enjoying this season. It's not the best one I've ever seen and I don't think the playoffs will offer much drama until the Finals, but it's been pretty good. That's enough to tide us over through the winter and into the spring, right?

ZILLER: Absolutely! And it's still a league where an amazing moment can happen at any moment. That serendipity is worth it all.

FLANNERY: Now bring back Vine and we're all set.